I got annoyed recently when I wanted to leave the house and noticed my bag was half full just with stuff to deal with weather. In Tokyo, I usually carry an umbrella with me, maybe sunscreen, sunglasses, a mini towel etc. Others have fans, “neck fans” (not sure how they are called). Maybe a water bottle also counts.
All of this is “weather stuff” for me. I asked a friend what she carries around, and we started to think about some other categories as well. So I wondered how much of the stuff we carry around is actually about the thing we want to do wherever we go, and how much is just to cope with the environment? Also, I would be curious how this looks like in other places around the world. Things probably vary by gender, age, season as well.
Some categories are:
- weather stuff
- personal hygiene stuff
- safety stuff
- not being annoyed by others stuff
- infrastructure fail stuff (e.g., preparing for when trains get delayed)
Phone wallet keys.
There’s an umbrella in my car but I use it like once a year.
Same, but I pared my wallet down to my just DL and one card. I don’t like carrying shit around for no reason anymore.
A bunny hug, keys, and phone/wallet combo. I’d carry less, but I’m already at the bare minimum.
Personally I think you are overdoing it OP.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/good-question-bunny-hug-1.7125965 explains what a bunny hug is: a word for hooded sweatshirt that people from Saskatchewan use.
Spectacles, testicles, wallet, and watch. Well, and a pocket knife. But that’s likely because I drive everywhere, and am currently in America.
To chime in, when I spent a few months in Osaka, I definitely carried more. Backpack, hand towel, change holder, plastic trashbag, pen, paper, deodorant (as to not offend Japanese folk, being a Westerner not used to the humidity), etc.
So maybe it’s very much a locale thing?
What’s up with the hand towel? Both you and OP had one in Japan.
Public restrooms typically don’t have paper towels or hand dryers.
I guess it’s local, it only became so apparent to me some time after moving to Japan. It’s also interesting how the types of things to prepare for change. In Japan, I think it’s mostly about weather. No need for safety measures, food and drinks everywhere and cheap, clean and reliable infrastructure (toilets, trains, everything, basically). People are also mindful about the noise they make, so even earplugs are not necessary.
In Germany it’s different. Weather is not so much of a concern, but I used to carry a basic pack of stuff with me in case I crashed at a friend’s place. This doesn’t happen here very often, and cheap hotels or manga cafes often have basics like toothbrushes etc.
In Japan, I think it’s mostly about weather. No need for safety measures, food and drinks everywhere and cheap, clean and reliable infrastructure (toilets, trains, everything, basically). People are also mindful about the noise they make, so even earplugs are not necessary.
Things like this make me really want to move to Japan. But then some basic things like not being able to carry a pocket knife turn me off of the idea.
If you haven’t visited, you definitely should. It’s really an amazing country, and you will hardly miss your pocket knife.
I definitely want to visit! I subscribe to a few Japan travel channels on YouTube and have been itching to go for ages.
Don’t underestimate the weather, though. It’s terrible in summer, unless you’re up on some mountain or at the Russian border. Spring and fall are great, though.
As little as possible. The only things I always take with me are my phone and my keys. I generally look at the weather report and only take an umbrella with me if there’s a chance of rain. I only take my wallet if I’m going somewhere where I might buy something etc.
I used to live in the desert. So on me, water bottle and sun block. In my car, water and a blanket.
Phone,keys, wallet generally. If its going to rain I bring an umbrella. If its hot I put in cream. If im bringing a bag I bring a bottle of water
Swede living in a suburb to Stockholm, 36 year old man, living alone.
Weather stuff:
I put an unbrella in my backpack during autumn, I wear a hat during winter.
I have sunglasses in my car and my new pair in my backpack, I wear regular glasses all the time.
If it is really hot I carry an insulated water bottle, on special occations I have carried a thermos flask with hot mulled wine (glögg) when it is around christmas, very cold and I won’t be driving.
Personal hygene:
Nothing really, well I have some paper towels in my car for emergency nature calls in the woods…
Safety stuff, nothing really, if I am going for a long trip, I will get some supplies, gloves, band aids, dressings, disinfectant, stuff like that.
Oh, as a bit of a planespotter, I allways have ear defenders in my car, as well as a big pack of extra ear plugs for any friend going with me who forgot their own hearing protection.
Annoyance filter, during autumn, winter and spring I allways carry my Bose QC35 II, suring summer I switch to some IEMs, currently using my Jabra Elite 3. I allways have my iPhone with me as well.
Infra fail stuff:
I carry my work phone to advice my work about delays, else my phone has all apps I need, finally I have biked from the suburbs to the center of Stockholm and back again, so I know my way around, should all public transport fail and I can’t get a taxi, I would just start walking.
It would probably take 3-4h to get home, but I’d get there
Phone, wallet, keys, lip balm, tissues, pen, paper, fold up scissors, toothpicks, mask (respirator), hand sanitiser, plasters, shopping bag, mints.
Phone, wallet and keys most of the time, plus backpack with rain coat and water bottle if it’s for an extended time.
Keys (house, car, bike), phone, wallet,… swiss army knife, handkerchief.
And during the pandemic a fabric face mask.It all fits in my pockets
Then dependent on the weather I will bring sunglasses or an umbrella.
I check Buienradar (Dutch rain forecast app) to see whether I’m going to need that.And sometimes, depending on what I will be doing, earbuds
I wear pants, and shoes. Sometimes a jacket. If the weather is bad enough to require more than that, I stay home.
Phone. Wallet. Keys. MP3s.
Saying my college roomie used before he left the room. It stuck with me. MP3 players weee popular then. So I just use MP3s to mean headphones
Most of the stuff I carry have already been mentioned so I’ll just add the ones not a lot of people carry:
- hand sanitizer
- a small travel vial of liquid soap
- a couple of squares of toilet paper rolled up
All of those including the standard phone, keys, wallet, etc. all fit in a small handbag that I wear across my chest.
Sometimes if I know I’ll be out in hot weather, I bring water in an insulated container. I also have a small bag that specifically has a pocket for water bottles.
Phone, wallet, keys, small ballpoint pen, watch, sunglasses and bt earbuds.
Sunglasses are magnetic and clip on to my glasses.I always carry a water bottle with me, no matter what the situation.
In a daily outing bag, I also always carry bandages, Vaseline, nail clippers, pepper spray, phone, glasses cleaning cloth, a portable charging bank/handwarmer, and a small stuffed animal (for emotional support).
I should start carrying sunscreen, but I 100% always spill things in my bag— be it ink, drink, or anything else.
For anyone reading this: purchase an Owala water bottle!! I don’t recommend brands often, but as someone who used to be chronically dehydrated AND always spilling shit: get an Owala. It has a lid that opens with a button push, a very good carrying handle that doubles as a button-guard when down, an easy to clean lid with removable/replaceable parts, and you can choose between swigging it or sipping it up without a straw!! I hate putting my mouth on straws, so that was a great option (even though I only swig lol— but the straw is inside the waterbottle). I’ve had mine for 2 to 3 years now, and apparently they’re popular now. Seriously, 100% recommend them. Only real downside is they are a bit too large for some cupholders and they can’t hold hot liquids, but that’s it.
Stay hydrated.
